***I do not own InuYasha or any affiliated character***

Chapter 10

~*Snow*~

Standing atop his tower Sesshomaru looked out on the fading twilight. The snow lay in a thick blanket over everything, giving the illusion of cleanliness to the world. Sesshomaru snorted, this world was far from clean, nothing was that simple to describe. Even the most benevolent of creatures hide an underlying mask off imperfection. None was clean and he least of all. The faces of those who had died on his swords or from his claws flashed before his eyes. Recalling a time when death was his to hand out to any who offended, or even just were in the wrong place at the wrong time. He grinned wickedly. How long had it been since he was so free?

A shriek of delight came to his ears, pulling his wondering thoughts away from his brooding of the past. He looked down at the remains of the garden and was surprised to see Rin, running across the open grounds. Not far behind her Ah-Un gave chase as she turned randomly to toss snow at them. They in turn would attempt to hit the offending clump with their tail.

He watched, surprisingly amused by the way they played at fighting. She would randomly hide behind fallen stonework and throw snow from her place of fortification. He could not resist watching, a part of him critiquing her flawed strategy, the other part completely amused to simply watch her attempt to outmaneuver the dragon.

She was succeeding better than he would have thought. No doubt Ah-Un was content to let her escape them at every turn. Enjoying the chase, the chance to play at fighting a treat. Stepping up onto the battlements Sesshomaru jumped, landing between the fortress wall and the wall of the garden. Seeking only a better view of their game.

She remained unaware of him, as her back was facing him, even so he was in the shadow of the fortress wall. She ran with gleeful abandon, her scarf flying behind her like a banner, her shawl tied around her shoulders, her hands wrapped in cloth against the cold.

Having never been effected by any extreme temperature Sesshomaru was surprised to find himself feeling concerned. While she looked completely unaware of the cold, she was in no way immune to its effects. Her cheeks and lips were a bright rose red, her eyes almost sparkled with delight at her fun. An odd, relaxed contentment came over him. He allowed himself the smallest of smiles in the safety of the shadows.

o0o

"What are you doing!" Demanded the small shill voice that could only be Jaken-Sama.

Rin rolled her eyes. Looking, at the same time as Ah-Un for the source of outrage. His height his only protection at this point as Rin lifted a fresh ball of snow, ready to pelt his green face.

Ah-Un crouched down snuffing loudly. They clearly did not approve of this interference in the game.

"You should not be..." Jaken began only to be cut short as a ball of snow hit his face, filling his open mouth with snow.

Rin Laughed loudly before ducking to the side to hide before he was able to recover. "And why not?" She demanded from behind her hiding place.

"Be..." he began clearly unsure himself why this was somehow not allowed. "No doubt Lord Sessho..." He was stopped again as she hit his side with more snow.

Rin laughed, delighted by her good aim. "No doubt Lord Sesshomaru would approve of my hitting you in the face!" Laughing again as she began a fresh barrage of snow.

"Stupid Girl!" Jaken yelled dodging for cover under a nearby bush.

Rin dared to peek above her cover and saw his small feet disappearing, laughing she stood and ran for new cover before he spotted her. A snow ball hit her side and she squeaked in surprise looking for where it came from. Ah-Un looked suspiciously at her from near the wall "Cheater!" she accused.

So the dragon could throw snowballs.

A new challenge. She grinned forming two new balls, she stood throwing one at Ah-Un and the other at a complaining Imp that still remained hidden in the bushes. Ah-Un hit the one thrown at them with their tail, the force returning it to its original state of fluff before they bounded her way.

Laughing all the more Rin dogged across the open ground seeking the cover of the garden wall near the fortress.

"I will find my revenge stupid girl!" Jaken yelled as she jumped the fence, feeling the snow ball that was intended for her miss by inches near her head. She crouched laughing, quickly forming a snow ball intent on throwing it, when Jaken wailed piteously and began stammering. "M..M...Milord!"

It was then that she looked behind her and saw a very annoyed looking Sesshomaru glaring through a face full of snow. Against her will, and probably her better judgment, Rin busted up laughing at the sight. He had clearly been hiding in the shadows when she dodged and got the snowball that was intended for her. Even under the glare he directed at her Rin still continued laughing. Jaken on the other hand was begging non stop for his life, punctuated with apologizes and weeping.

Sesshomaru said nothing while glaring and wiping the snow from his face. Jaken still cowered and Rin, seeing him look so angry was suddenly genuinely concerned for the small Imps future health. "Its only a game, it was meant for me, we didn't know you were there" she began in rapid succession "Its just...snow..." she ended lamely as his golden eyes regarded her before he jumped, with no apparent effort, over to Jakens side.

To her horror his claw was glowing green and the imp cowered below him. "Jaken..." he began. Jaken squeaked in fear. Rin couldn't let him do something to the Imp, as annoying as he was, it wasn't his fault.

Before Rin had really given it much thought, the snow ball, that she was intending to throw at Jaken was aimed and flying right at the Demon Lord who stood dangerously over his victim. The thump of snow hitting his left side sounded far too loud to her own frightened mind.

o0o

Sesshomaru, while slightly annoyed was not really going to kill the Imp. Frighten, throttle perhaps but nothing more. When the snow hit his side and his attention was pulled from his prey to the red faced Rin. Allowing a wicked grin to spread across his face he watched her blink rapidly. Judging from her scent she was somewhere between scared and thrilled.

Good.

"I, Its... Just a...um game" She stammered as he reached down slowly and took a fistful of snow. A small smile played around her pink mouth as she licked her lips nervously, no doubt trying to gauge his intentions.

"You will pay in kind" he said shaping the snow into a ball. He would make sure that both her and Jaken got a full face of snow for their trespasses against his person. Jaken, shaking in terror, bolted for cover while Sesshomaru's attention was directed away from him.

Rin watched the Imp flee and with her own little squeak of excited terror took of running.

Sesshomaru watched her flee, seeking cover as he held the snow lightly in hand, it was most amusing. She was prey now. Though he doubted very much that she was aware, of the change in dynamic that she created by running. Her actions stirred something he had not enjoyed for a long time.

Excitement. The Chase.

He could smell the rise of her scent, hot, musky and laced through with emotion. Her very heartbeat thumped loudly to his sensitive ears. Its rate increased with adrenaline. Deep down his pure Demon was snarling and not in a way he was used too. The evil grin on his face only broadened as she became more desirable as she fled him.

The Imp was still running, with a quick twist of his wrist the snow was flying. Jaken was hit in the back of the head, the momentum causing him to tumble, head over heels into a deep snow bank.

Now for his next victim, he would stalk her, gathering fresh snow as he went along.

She had not stopped running, pausing only to gather snow for defense. Her face was rosy from the wind and excitement as she grinned brightly. He moved slowly in his chase, gauging her movement as she kept her eye on him. She was still unsure of his intent. Her own feeling spiking between enjoying the new player in her game and fear that he was genuinely angered.

At her next pause he let fly his ball of snow. She squeaked and ducked, it only just missed her head. Her own hand flew and another snowball crossed the yard at him. He moved to dodge easily but there was no need. Ah-Un jumped at it smacking it with their tail.

"Traitor!" She yelled at the offending Dragon. Who only chuffed happily.

Sesshomaru quirked a brow. "Loyalty can not be broken so easily" He said scratching Un's head as he moved, more quickly this time, toward her place of fortification behind a fallen pillar.

She remained hidden for several heartbeats, while he stood not far away, hand raised ready to throw it at her as soon as she showed her face. Rin poked her face over the pillar and he let it fly. She had no time to dodge. And yet again there was no need as Ah-Un, who seemed to think this was how the game went, moved to thump it with their tail.

Powder flew where the ball hit, showering her with the remains of it. She jumped up laughing happily "I think their loyalty may be torn!" She called as she took off for another place of defense. Sesshomaru glared at the dragon, who was either blissfully unaware, or did not care what Sesshomaru thought. Most likely the later.

He watched her move again, she seemed to think constant movement would be to her benefit. Time to change strategy. Tossing a few snowballs her way her waited until she moved again and then ran strait at her.

He could, when he wanted, move at impressive speeds. But knowing her frail humanity he slowed just enough that she saw him just before he reached her. His reward was a short, yet loud, scream of fright as he lifted her over his shoulder. Before she could so much as protest he dropped her, unceremoniously, into a thick snowbank.

While still laughing she glared up at him. "Cheater!' She complained, then with a movement so brash and quick, it actually caught him off guard she kicked his feet out from under him. Then the presumptuous, daring woman attempted to shove a snow ball into his face!

He grinned and, enjoying this far more than he should, stopped her. Wrists in hand, and a simple twist later and she was pinned, against the ground under him. The chase a thrill and now his prey was at his mercy. Wrists above her head hair fanned out beneath her in a halo of midnight against the white snow. She was giggling her eyes closed, snow flakes sticking to her dark lashes, her face rosy with the cold. "You win!" She laughed. Opening her eyes she looked up at him.

"I always win" He sniffed with as much dignity as he could muster under the current situation. A situation which suddenly came into sharp contrast against the cold snow. Her body was warm, hot even, against his own. Letting go and quickly rising he stood and brushed the snow from his hakama. The thrill of the moment, while lingering, had dimmed. Sesshomaru was left with a foreign feeling about the small chase.

"Help me out?" She asked, pulling his mind from its wandering. He held out a hand, which she took and he pulled her up. It was then that he remembered that she was more susceptible to cold than he. Her hand were very cold. She was beginning to shiver as well.

"You are cold" he stated.

"Yea, well snow is wet" she sighed then shrugged "Being tossed in a snow bank didn't help"

"Jaken" Sesshomaru yelled.

"Y..y..y..yes mi..milord" Jaken stuttered as he poked his head out of his hiding place behind the low wall.

"Go attend the fires" he demanded as he took her hand and pulled her along.

"I..I..Its okay, I j..j..just need to ch..change" she stuttered through the shivering, while smiling up at him.

Apon further reflection Sesshomaru decided that she needed to warm up now. And so he simply lifted her up and hurried toward the Library where he knew the fire still burned.

She gave a small squeak of surprise and couched around his neck before looking up at him nervously. "Th..Th..Thank you" she shivered.

o0o

Miroku looked down on the village and sighed with relief. It had been two days journey trudging through the snow and they had finally reached their destination. He could see the shrine sitting a top its hill, the huge god tree near at hand a light with the last rays of sunlight reflecting on the snow. "Well, shall we?" Sango said as she proceeded him down the hill.

The people of the village smiled kindly as they passed heading for the shrine that was said to have been Kikyous home.

As they passed under the arch into the shrine's grounds a bent old woman stood in the door, an eye patch covering one eye.

"Greetings we are looking for information about a shrine maiden named Kikyou, we were told she once served here?" Sango asked politely

The old woman nodded "She was my elder sister, and keeper of this shrine for many years"

Miroku was surprised by this "I thought she was shrine maiden at the shine in our valley" Miroku mumbled.

"I would assume then that ye seek information about her final act in life?" At Miroku's shocked look the old woman smiled "I may be old but mine hearing is still good. Come inside"

As the old woman tottered around preparing tea Sango unloaded her weapons and warmed herself near the fire. Miroku followed suit and watched as she moved about not saying anything for a time. He coughed uncomfortably hopping she would look their way. The old woman turned her eye to him and sighed "Forgive this old woman her sentiments, it has been a very long time since anyone had come asking after my sister." She finally said offering them cups of tea before closing her one good eye "My name is Keade, I am the younger sister of the priestess Kikyou and who are you two?"

"I am Miroku and this is Sango. I am from a village in the north west, our small village is in a valley nestled against the sea with an old fortress on the hillside"

"I know the place" The old woman said.

"A while back we had a problem with a demon killing several people before it was stopped. I went seeking the aid of a demon slayer" and here he indicated Sango "Upon my return I learned that the killings had stopped, the village believed that in giving the demon a virgin he would stop, and sadly while I was not there they did just that." Miroku paused, Keade simply sat sipping her tea listening.

"If this demon is not killing then why do ye seek this place?"

"We seek the truth behind his binding, I am concerned that he might break free and no doubt attack the village."

"The girl that they sent was not killed" Sango said "We went to his door and he told us she was none of our concern"

Keade nodded, while seeming surprised she said nothing.

"How did your sister curse him?"

"The question ye should ask is not how but why" Keade began sipping at her tea. "The Demon Lord Sesshomaru took something very precious from my sister."

"Precious enough to bind him like that?" Interjected Sango glaring slightly

"He took from her something that remains to this day one of human kinds most precious gifts, Love." Keade said smiling slightly at Sango's shocked look. "Sesshomaru killed the only man my sister ever dared to give that gift to."

"Why?"

"Let us first learn of the Demon Lord himself, Sesshomaru is the pure blooded demon son of the great Inu No Tashio" Both Miroku and Sango gasped "Yes, Lord Sesshomaru is his son, and equal or perhaps greater than his father. He despised human kind, but when his father fell for the human princess Iziyou, who would latter bear him a child Sesshomaru's hatred grew, he became ruthless and even seeking the blood of innocent humans. So angered was he that his honored Father had, in his mind, sunk so low. His hatred for the princess and the half demon child she carried only intensified when, on the night the child was born his Father died seeking to protect them."

Both Miroku and Sango sat in silence taking in the tale they did not know.

"And why, you ask, does this have anything to do with my sisters binding?" Keade sighed eyes closed, lost in a memory. "You see, the half demon child lived and grew in age and power, nothing in comparison to his father but still a formidable demon in his own right. He came to this village seeking the sacred jewel that my sister guarded while she was purifying it. He wanted to use it to make himself into a full demon with its power. But an odd thing happened, a bond began to form between my sister and the half demon, until they decided to use the sacred jewel to make him human so that she and he could have a life together."

Sango sighed enthralled with the tale, its obvious romantic sentiments, their noble sacrifice for love. Miroku understood but thought it foolish, as a human he no doubt lost his strength, stamina and power.

"On the day that they were meant to wed Sesshomaru attacked InuYasha, and finding him human, killed him with ease, no doubt giving no thought to any consequences that might follow" Here Keade looked quite sad sighing deeply. "I found my sister later that day holding the dead body of her lost love, her white kimono stained with his red blood. She looked empty of feeling when I found her, no doubt her tears long shed. For a week after she walked without purpose, neglecting her duties, staring for long hours into nothing. And then one day her eyes hardened and she began looking through old scrolls asking many who had subjugated demons before. I worried, and with good reason too for not long did I have to wait before she came and told me her desire to punish Lord Sesshomaru for taking her beloved from her. I begged her not to, for even though she was powerful, a demon of his power could not be easily killed. It was then that she told me that her intention was not to kill him, rather she sought to bind him in a curse. At the time I did not know she intended to spend her life force doing such."

"It killed her?" Sango said clearly upset by the thought.

"Yes, I learned later that the people of the village near by had witness the event and for her act, one they thought was intended for their safety, laid her to rest in their own shrine. I visited once, long ago, at the time there was no keeper of the shrine for none would dare inhabit it so close to one such as he." Keade closed her good eye again and fell silent.

"What we were hopping to find out was the exact curse she used, how could it be broken?" Miroku finally spoke.

"I remember" she mumbled clearly thinking it over. "My memory is faded but I do remember her once speaking the words she intended to use. "Your curse is your own, your fate sealed by your own hand. Your undoing will be that of your own pride."

"What does that mean?" Miroku said mostly too himself.

"My sister knew she could not kill him outright, but could bind him. Even at the cost of her life" Keade responded. "His hatred for humans was well known, what better way to punish him that force him to protect them?"

Sango nodded "We guessed as much"

"When I begged her to reconsider I pointed out that someone could undue her work, she smiled and said that only he would be able to. You might wonder why she would give him the power to break it himself? Your undoing will be that of your own pride. Kikyou left him the opening to break it. His pride is his arrogance and his hatred of humans. He has to love, a human to be precise"

Miroku whistled low as it dawned on him what she had done. "His pride would never allow him to love a human"

Keade nodded "Until you arrived I assumed he would remain bound until time ended or he was finally killed"

"Until we arrived?" Miroku began confused.

"If he has allowed that girl to stay, under his protection, and is now providing for her. It is possible that he is dangerously close to breaking this curse himself."

Sango and Miroku exchanged looks that could only be described as worried.

"I would guess from your faces that you see that possibility as well?" Keade asked

"We need to return as soon as we can" Miroku nodded.

"Its snowing again, we should at least wait for it to stop" Sango said.

Miroku looked with distaste at the falling white snow, he never liked the cold but he feared the end outcome if The demon Lord did fall for Rin. The girl had a sincere faith that he was harmless to the village. Could the demon really not harbor vengeful intent after such a long binding?

o0o

"Do you enjoy reading?" He wondered aloud as he came to stand next to her. Not for the first time she was in the remains of the library reading an old scroll. After the snow fight he had taken her here as the fire was enchanted and would not go out. From then on she seemed to take up permanent residence. She had even moved a mat into the space before the fire so she could stay comfortable if she fell asleep.

Rin smiled up at him "I do, the Innkeeper used to read me stories. Once he died I didn't have anything to read for a bit, until I went to the shrine that is"

"hnn" he said moving to glance at what she had. It was an old scroll of mythical tales. "Did you find much to read at the shrine?"

"Oh yes, though nothing as fun as these old tales. Mostly the history of this valley, the old shrine keepers…" she trailed of clearly uncomfortable.

"And?" he probed at her clear discomfort

"Oh, just some old legend about an evil Demon"

He repressed the grin that threatened "And what was this evil demon like?" He was no doubt the subject of the shines scrolls. What did she think of him he wondered.

She gulped as he drew closer to her. But then she laughed a small bell like laugh and turned away suddenly "It was far from the truth I am sure"

"Are you?"

"Would you like me to read to you?" She asked him suddenly changing the subject.

"If you would like" he though she was so odd. But if it would please her then she may.

"I would like that" she said as she moved toy make room for him on the mat. Sesshomaru eyes the small space with trepidation. As he stood unmoving she blinked several times clear unsure what was wrong. Then she pouted, ever so slightly..

What could be the harm?

At first, he sat stiff and far from her. But the girl was clearly unaware of his personal space. Slowly, as she read old tales of myth and legend, she leaned into him showing him the images that were painted in the old scroll. She was warm and soft and so trusting. Why was her obvious trust in him so intoxicating? His first thought was that when he turned on her to kill, as he had intended, the betrayal would be more sweet.

Sadly, Sesshomaru found that he really had no desire to kill her, a sad discovery. The death of one Human should not matter overly much to him. However the longer he considered this oddity in his mindset the more he was aware that he did not want her to go. Ever.

As the waxing moon began to rise above the distant hills she handed him the scroll "Here you take a turn" she said. After a few moments of silence Sesshomaru looked down at the scroll offered him. How late was it? No doubt it was approaching the middle of the night. Had he really sat at her side that long.

She pouted prettily and yawned "My throat is getting sore from so much reading. Just one story, this next one sounds really interesting. Please?"

A slight glare crossed his face as he eyed the scroll. Read to her? What an strange request.

He nodded and took the scroll from her hand. She sighed and leaned into his arm, trying to still look at the scroll. It was not as unpleasant as he thought it would be.

He looked at the next story. It was ancient and he doubted that humans even knew it, it was after all Yokai lore.

"It is a very old myth. Why do you want to hear such a trivial tale?" he asked. Suddenly uncomfortable with the topic of this tale.

She shrugged slightly. "I have always wondered why some demons look more like humans than others"

He nodded and began reading her the old myth.

"When the kami created the first mighty Taiyokai they were powerful and strong. Having only one form, the form of their Demon spirit. With no power to change from this form they wandered the world for generations, fighting among each other, claiming lands and vassals in great and terrible wars. As Humans began their existence in the world, the Yokai at first payed them no attention. They were like any other animal to such powerful beings."

Rin laughed lightly.

"Among the mightiest of the Yokai lords" he continued "Several began to take note of the small and powerless humans that walked the world. Noting their interactions with others, specifically of the opposite sex, the Taiyokai soon found that they envied these humans for one small thing. This caused the greatest among them to petitioned the Kami asking to be allowed the power to have the same form as humans did.

"What need do you have of their shape?" Hachiman, (god of war) demanded. For they saw their creations as complete with no need for such form.

"We desire to express our affection like the humans do"

The Kami discussed this request among each other. Sarutahiko (Kami of earth) Laughed at them "Your affections and how you share them with each other is done in a manor fitting your spirit, what need have you for their shapes?"

The Mightiest Inugami stood forward. Having come into being at the power of humans he felt the desire most. "To mate for offspring we can, it is true, but we cannot share with our own kind the humans most intimate expression. We cannot kiss."

Omoikane (Goddess of wisdom) feeling pity for them showed them the manner with which their yokai powers could be shifted to change their shape to that of a human."

"So, it was all for a kiss" she grinned up at him "Why do not all Yokai take human form?" Rin mumbled clearly tiring.

"Most lack the power to do so. The weakest demons will appear less human that the most powerful."

She sighed. "Another?" she managed to say.

She would no doubt sleep soon. He continued on, this tale speaking of the ancient art of sword making with the fang of a powerful Yokai.

It was dull, even to him. Sesshomaru slowed his speaking, felt her shift against his shoulder, and then she was nodding. He stopped reading listening to the silence broken only by the crackling fire and her shallow breathing. He knew she was sleeping, but did not know what to do with the information, he sat still as she no doubt drifted deeper into sleep. Sesshomaru decided that perhaps he should take her to her bed.

Now how to pick her up without waking her?

He shifted and she started to slide. He leaned and quickly caught her before she fell far. She jumped slightly clutching at his arm in her sleep.

No, she should just sleep here.

Having reached his decision Sesshomaru leaned awkwardly over her as he tried to decide how to lay her down. Perhaps if he just leaned back onto the mat slowly?

While this approach did work in a manner of speaking he was now trapped. As she settled onto the mat she only curled more closely to him, his arm under her neck.

As Sesshomaru lay, somewhat nervous, next her her he was beginning to panic. He could call for Jaken to help, but yelling would no doubt wake her. With a sigh he relaxed next to her, thinking he would be able to dis entangle himself from her sleeping form was she was more deeply asleep.

She was warm. She smelled like a spring morning just after the rain. He closed his eyes and let himself indulge in her scent. It had been there the entire time she was near him but he would not allow himself to lean in so close to her to really enjoy it.

Now however?

No one was near to see his resolve falter. There was no one to call him weak for letting her worm her way beneath his skin like this. He wanted to lay here by her he let his other arm encircle her, noting the feminine curve of her hips gently allowing his hand to slide down to her thin waist.

When had he started wanting her?

In the darkness, as the glowing light of the fire warmed them he pondered the question. Turning the thought over, examining the point of attraction.

A faint buzzing began to pull on the back of his mind. He ignored it, perhaps they would go away...

She was kind, spirited, brave and saw something in him that he could not see. Her company was, at first, a simple pleasure after so much time alone. But now?

He wanted to be near her, wanted to ask her opinion on the things that crossed his mind, wanted to know that someone cared about him. With a sting of annoyance he thought of his father. Perhaps his family was cursed? Not only his father but the halfbreed as well found the company of human women, desirable.

Angry at himself yet unable to pull away from her still. Sesshomaru was finding that the struggle against his own mind a difficult task. On the one hand she was a self proclaimed forbidden fruit. On the other Sesshomaru was used to getting what he wanted, and she was what he wanted so what did it matter anymore? He was already brought low by this curse.

As he lay watching her sleep, thinking of the ancient tale he had read her hours ago, he watched her pink mouth. If the story was indeed true then his form was a grift from the Kami for that purpose. Sesshomaru had never kissed another on the lips as humans did. His sexual relations had always been in Demon form. Was a kiss so wonderful that even the most powerful begged for the ability to do it?

Sesshomaru leaned down, hovering just above her face.

The buzzing in the back of him mind pulled his attention. Growling low Sesshomaru moved away from her and stood. Whatever it was, it was approaching quickly and his attention could not be stayed.

As he turned and left the room he was unaware that she had opened her eyes, watched him walk out of the room, amazement and longing in her eyes.

**End**

***So long in coming I know I am sorry. Writers block is a bitch and decided to harass me. But It seems to have gone *yay* Anywho hope you liked this chapter as it turned out more silly/fluffy than I meant it to***